Given its rich historical and cultural legacy, diverse population and geography, and current potential for economic and social development, Mexico is an ideal study abroad destination. With more than 1,250 institutions of higher education, Mexico offers a wide array of programs and majors for international students. The country's higher education system includes universities, technical colleges, and teacher-training institutes, all of which are both either public or private. Whether students choose to live in urban Mexico City or a provincial capital like Guanajuato, opportunities to practice Spanish and experience diverse aspects of Mexican culture are abundant.

For students who would like to study art and architecture, Mexico's folk art tradition makes this country prime location. Students can find strong programs in these and other subjects at Mexico City's Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. The university, established in 1551, is known to be the oldest in Latin America, and its central city campus is an architectural icon of Latin American modernity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Founded by the Aztecs as Tenochtitlán in 1325, modern Mexico City is one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. With a population of more than 17 million, this capital city is the hub of the country's economy and international trade. Mexico City is a true blend of the historical and modern, with skyscrapers and colonial architecture in dramatic juxtaposition. The Centro Histórico is the city's original downtown, and its historical and architectural legacy help make Mexico City a destination in which students can learn about the political, cultural, historical and social development of the country. The Universidad Iberoamericana is one institution in el Distrito Federal, or DF as Mexico City is locally referred to, that history and archaeology students will want to consider. DF is also home to the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, the country's premier business and economics school, and Universidad La Salle offers programs in Spanish language and culture for international students.

Students interested in studying international business may want to consider a program at the Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, a highly regarded school in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey. Another popular study abroad destination is Guadalajara, the "City of Roses." The University of Guadalajara is one of the oldest and most respected higher education institutions in Mexico. While there, students can take in such famous sites as the Mercado Libertad, the Teatro Degollado and the Estadio Jalisco. Guadalajara City is the birthplace of Mariachi music and Mexican rodeo and is host to a famous annual Mariachi festival.

Guanajuato, nestled in the mountains of central Mexico, once contained a single silver mine that accounted for two-thirds of global silver production. Today, colonial buildings and European-style plazas throughout the city echo the splendor of days gone by. Guanajuato promotes its annual Festival Internacional Cervantino as one of the most important cultural events in the whole of Latin America. Featuring theater performances in Castillian Spanish and diverse artistic exhibitions, the festival celebrates the life and works of Don Miguel de Cervantes, whose novel Don Quixote was a major milestone in Western literature and a crowning achievement of Spain's Siglo de Oro. The Universidad de Guanajuato offers international students opportunities to study in any of its seven academic departments.

Mexico surpasses all but two countries in number of World Heritage Sites, with the city of Morelia as a standout example. The city's historic center includes 1,113 historical monuments, many built in the region's characteristic pink stone. The city offers history and archaeology students a glimpse of the country's ancient civilizations. Mexico was settled in 1500 B.C. by the Olmec tribe, and was once home to the widely studied Aztec and Mayan tribes. Chichén Itzá, perhaps the most famous Mayan temple city, was recently recognized as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

The more than 50 indigenous groups that live in Mexico are a living legacy of the Mesoamerican past. Anthropology students interested in indigenous studies and social change will be fascinated by the history and challenges these people groups face today. Students interested in politics can also benefit from studying interactions between these different cultures. Beyond merely analyzing the current state of Mexico's development, many students are drawn to programs in the country that explore alternative or sustainable development theories. Mexico is home to many leading figures in alternative development, including Gustavo Estava, who works among Mexico's indigenous peoples.

Mastery of the Spanish language is one field in which students can concentrate their studies while enrolled in a Mexican university. The Universidad Anahuac Oaxaca is well-known for its language programs. Students who wish to immerse themselves in the language and culture of the country may also want to consider programs that offer homestays. Many programs offer this type of living arrangement, as well as fieldwork, volunteer opportunities, internships and other forms of immersive learning.

The country's terrain is diverse, and features mountain ranges, pristine beaches, desert, coastal plains and high plateaus. The biodiversity of the country makes it a prime location for students studying biology, geography and the environment. These students will want to explore Mexico's volcanoes, dense jungles and the many species of flora, mammals, amphibians and reptiles that inhabit these regions. As the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme has identified Mexico for its biodiversity, the country is seeking to protect its natural resources through biosphere reserves, national parks, conservation and sanctuaries.

With so many options available, students who decide to study abroad in Mexico will find opportunities to deepen their studies, while living in a unique and dynamic Latin American society.

For students who would like to study art and architecture, Mexico's folk art tradition makes this country prime location. Students can find strong programs in these and other subjects at Mexico City's Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. The university, established in 1551, is known to be the oldest in Latin America, and its central city campus is an architectural icon of Latin American modernity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Students interested in studying international business may want to consider a program at the Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, a highly regarded school in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey. Another popular study abroad destination is Guadalajara, the "City of Roses." The University of Guadalajara is one of the oldest and most respected higher education institutions in Mexico. While there, students can take in such famous sites as the Mercado Libertad, the Teatro Degollado and the Estadio Jalisco. Guadalajara City is the birthplace of Mariachi music and Mexican rodeo and is host to a famous annual Mariachi festival.

The country's terrain is diverse, and features mountain ranges, pristine beaches, desert, coastal plains and high plateaus. The biodiversity of the country makes it a prime location for students studying biology, geography and the environment. These students will want to explore Mexico's volcanoes, dense jungles and the many species of flora, mammals, amphibians and reptiles that inhabit these regions. As the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme has identified Mexico for its biodiversity, the country is seeking to protect its natural resources through biosphere reserves, national parks, conservation and sanctuaries. With so many options available, students who decide to study abroad in Mexico will find opportunities to deepen their studies, while living in a unique and dynamic Latin American society.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Population: 107,449,525
Geographic Area sq. km: 1,972,550 sq. km
People per sq. km: 54
Country Code (Phone): 52
Electric Voltage: 127V
Exchange Rate: 1 Peso = 0.0895 Dollars
Emergency Number: 080 or 060
Main Cultural Groups: Mestizo 60%, Amerindian 30% (Aztec, Maya, Zapotec), white 9%, other 1%
Main Religions Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%

POLITICS
Year of Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
Type of government: Federal Republic
Current Ruling Party: National Action Party (PAN)
Head of Government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (December 1, 2006); chief of state and head of government
Top Domestic Issues: Public Education, Economy
Top International Issues: Immigration, Drug Trafficking
Next Election Date: July 1, 2012
Major Political Parties: National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional), Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI, Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD

Resources -

IIEPassport: www.iiepassport.org
Mexican government: http://www.mexonline.com/mexagency.htm
U.S. Consular Country Information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html
Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
CIA Factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Tourism: http://www.visitmexico.com
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México: http://www.itam.mx/en/index.php
Universidad Nacional Autónoma: http://www.unam.mx/EN/
Universidad de Guanajuato: http://www.ugto.mx/sitioug/ingles/estructurapagina/index.htm
Asociación Nacional de Universidads e Instituciones de Educación Superior (ANUIES): http://www.anuies.mx/